7th annual ChristmasVille Festival kicks off Thursday night

And after a delay due to inclement weather Tuesday, Santa Clause is set to land just after 9:30 tomorrow in Rock Hill just in time for the 7th annual ChristmasVille festival.

Kris Kringle will touch down in the grassy field between Main and Black streets adjacent to the city’s parking garage, while opening ceremonies are set for 7 p.m. Thursday. Festival chairman John Rinehart Senior says the four-day extravaganza will feature more than 70 events and activities.

Allan Miller, president of the ChristmasVille Board of Governors, says the theme of the opening ceremonies is ChristmasVille Rocks, which takes everyone to another era.

Miller says the opening ceremonies will feature live entertainment.

Rinehart says last year’s ChristmasVille festival attracted about 70,000 people and he is predicting close to 80,000 this year.